The opposition should not be a simple escort for the dictatorial regime. There must be an end to the "chosen" opposition!

Since 1990, the opposition was never integrated into the normal political process to serve as an instrument of significant political change, but to play the role of furniture in a showcase of democracy and provide an alibi for fake elections which are just strictly controlled plebiscites to provide certain legitimacy to the natural nominee or his supposed offspring. Under this scheme, the "representative" opposition is simply selected and asked to do their number until people discovered the trick; then the regime moves on to a new "selected" opponent who also will burn out, and so on. The status of leader of the opposition becomes even a key position, unofficial but yet richly paid in briefcases and various juicy mayoral positions for one term or two. Everyone is happy in this arrangement; the regime continues its unchallenged looting reign, while the chosen opposition plays perfectly hers which is to escort the regime in its deception. But for many Gabonese citizens, this comedy has gone on for too long and no one is laughing anymore. The formula of the chosen opposition no longer works!

1. Who speaks today of regime change through negotiation in Gabon, is selling us an anticipation total disillusionment

It was Pascal Lissouba who like a prophet (nobody being that in their country!), said that it was not in the nature of dictators to hold free and transparent elections likely to oust them from power. So starting from this axiom, we can empty here a number of garbage arguments being peddled in Gabon:

a) We can say that those who claim reveries like the need to wait for 2016, merely delay their programmed disillusionment, because everything is in place for the same mechanism to always produce the same telegraphed effects. To naively think that one has to just affirm and visualize change for that to happen, is to lie to one self; therefore anyone who supports that view cannot be serious.

b) The apostles of patience who are asking for the people to wait until providence does its work, are unfortunately negativists who doubt in their own abilities to alter the course of history. Even the most sincere among them who feel that it is enough to remain faithful to one's principles and ideals which would have to happen anyway with the evolution of things, are wrong. These people have admirable qualities, but unfortunately the status quo cannot be broken by wishful thinking. If the Gabonese people do nothing, the dictatorship still has good days ahead.

c) Negotiators who offer to sit around a table with the dictator, while forgetting that without leverage or a solid deterrent, it is useless to negotiate with a dictator because the dictator is reluctant to make concessions in order to reach a satisfactory situation for the oppressed. Negotiate what, how and using what means of pressure? That is the question! The most important element when negotiating with a dictator is the balance power. Without a deterrent, no success!

2. To consolidate the "resistance" into a pluripotent "force" and a devastating deterrent

Ali Bongo understands that it is in his interest to observe the appearance of democratic norms, especially if he corrupts them. This is why he is negotiating a conditional rehabilitation of the Union Nationale party in order to organize pluralistic elections in which everybody would be participating and that the PDG would win of course, but also good losers would be rewarded as agreed in the discussion away from prying ears, in a non too ungrateful way by a few crumbs. That's the scenario of the chosen opposition for which some are already struggling to get attention as the first to have responded to the call for a new peace of the braves. That said, in the present state of things, it is not surprising that with a fragmented opposition in small incoherent groups and representing no strength nor mobilization capacity and less deterrence, the regime does not make much of real concessions to meet the demands of increasingly insistent suffering citizens. Today, only the Union Nationale party has the political and human potential that could swing the pendulum; the regime knows this and that's why the negotiations that everybody talks about are happening, with the U.S. ambassador as intermediary. Given the focus about the potential of the Union Nationale, it would be both necessary and appropriate for that party's executive and other Gabonese volunteers to first and foremost prioritize resistance and maintaining it among the population, before thinking of negotiations. A large balance of power is essential to achieving a fundamental change in Gabon; the Bongos should know that they are in danger, they need to feel danger. The firm resistance has the advantage of changing the balance of power between the oppressor and the people. It is thanks to the unfailing strength of resistance that dictatorships have always fallen. First there must be an effort to change the balance of power on the ground, and then negotiate the departure of the dictator as we have seen in other places. It is when Ali Bongo would understand that his stubbornness could lead for him to be put into a wheelbarrow like Samuel Doe, that he would take the Gabonese people seriously.

Those who today say they reject the regime, while excluding the path of resistance in favor of negotiations without strength on the opposition's side, are comedians who do not deserve our attention because they want to play opponents that accompany the dictatorship while feasting on some stipends that are discarded to them.

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